Handwriting LDs what is what

These LD’s are neurological impairments. Some therapies like occupational therapy or physical therapy can provide some response or improvement. Sometimes, these impairments do not respond to therapy and the only alternative is to circumvent the disability by using computer aided technology such as a voice activated computer.

For an accurate diagnosis, you can schedule an appointment with a neurologist. Let us know how things go.

I hear your frustration, Bast.

The various writing LDs describe different sources or causes of the LDs. I believe that Apraxia and Dyspraxia are more muscle/brain related where Dysgraphia is more of a problem with all the processes of writing. (Think about how many things you have to do automatically to actually write just one letter, not to mention a whole word.)

If it is more of a physical problem, Physical Therapy can be very helpful. Strengthening the muscles of the upper body (hands, arms, shoulders, back and chest) can help with the motor issues. There are also a number of grips for pens and pencils that can help with how they hold the stylist.

Handwriting Without Tears is supposed to be an excellent program for kids with writing issues. I believe it has exercises that help as well as.

Some kids write better one way than another. Block letters can be helpful for some people while others find cursive more comfortable.

If your child is having difficulty with the whole process, from motor issues to processing issues, you may want to look at Assistive Technology (not just keyboarding). This can include Word Prediction and Speech to Text programs. (Before computers people with these issues were just labeled as stupid or ignorant because they couldn’t write. Our kids have much better opportunities.)

As for testing, a Neuropsychologist can test for these LDs.

What I did before computers: I got a lot of homework docked because the teacher couldn’t read it, got scolded by the teacher, had to listen as the teacher praised another student (who was mean to me) for her pretty writing, got snide remarks from a teacher for the way my numbers looked….Finally, in high school, something “clicked” and I finally mastered legible and pretty writing. I was always writing stories, so I got a lot of practice, but it still took me longer than it did the other kids. People who write left-handed also have trouble; my hubby’s signature is a chicken scratch. :)

Thanks guys for your input.

I just had a meeting with the school. I gave them a copy of this post.

Apparently, the problem is far worse at home than at school. Yet, he is failing Science and Social Studies.

I told them that I wanted them to find out if the problem was 1) simple defiance, 2) pain, bad posture problem, etc., or 3) brain to hand communication (this includes, several neurological problems the most important being “is it a case that he knows what he wants to write, but can’t get the message to his hands?.” What ever the problem is, it does not occur with writing numbers and drawing. I did do one test at home and showed the result to them. I had him close his eyes and write down letters using a pen. He had no problem. Actually, the letters looked neater.

For now, they are going to allow him to draw answers where possible. When using the Web Diagram for composition, he’ll be allowed to do pictures to represent what he wants to write about in the paper.

They are also going to have him see the guidance counselor to hopefully find out why he refuses to do written assignments at home.

I’ll keep you posted on the results.

One other thing, Nyssa, how did you get yourself interested enough to write stories? If I could only get him to do this, I think it would help. I need a way to inspire him to do it. If I tell him to do it, he won’t.

If it does not occur when he writes numbers or draws, then this indicates that it isn’t a fine motor skill problem. That it’s a particular problem with letters?

Where he is still ‘thinking’ of the shape of each letter, before writing it. Rather than just writing it ‘automatically’.
A good technique to make it more automatic, is ‘air writing’. Which simply involves ‘fully extending the arm’ and then forming the shapes of the letters in the air. This embeds a stronger memory of the shape and motion to form letters, and is very effective.